MP CHRISTINE Russell says small clubs such as Chester City FC could benefit from a Government report which calls for a radical redistribution of football's finances.

Premier League soccer stars could soon face wage cuts to aid smaller clubs, following last week's conclusion of the All Party Football Group's inquiry.

For Mrs Russell the report represents the conclusion of a wide-ranging inquiry in which she questioned 42 witnesses in seven evidence sessions during nine months.

The report, which could shake up the way the Premier League, Football League and Conference League are run, will be presented to the FA, which will be urged to make changes to the British game.

Mrs Russell - the only woman MP who sat on the inquiry - wants the UK's biggest clubs to look at themselves and realise how smaller clubs struggle to survive on a daily basis.

She also wants to see tighter guidelines to protect clubs bought by millionaires such as Russian businessman Roman Abramovich, who bought Chelsea FC, and Terry Smith, the former owner of Chester City.

Mrs Russell remembers the days when Chester City struggled to pay its bills and wants the FA to implement protection for ground staff when the millionaires suddenly pull the plug.

The MP, who also wants to see fans involved at board level, says a number of changes are needed to help small clubs in the football and Conference leagues. They include:

Making Premiership clubs give up 5% of their annual broadcasting revenue to help small clubs.

Putting small club grounds into the hands of independent trusts to protect them from the whims of rich owners. Putting guidelines in place to protect ground staff from the sudden departure of club chairmen/owners.

The All-Party Football Group took evidence from club chairmen, players' groups, TV companies and supporters' associations to find out why clubs are struggling to make ends meet.

Mrs Russell, who supports Manchester United and Chester City, said: 'We took written evidence from dozens of interested parties and heard oral evidence from over 40 witnesses from all areas of the game - the football authorities, club chairmen, fans, journalists, administrators, agents and even ex-Sports Ministers.

'The financial divide between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' in football must be tackled urgently. If implemented, the report's recommendations would clearly benefit the smaller clubs like Chester City.'

The report also makes clear, however, that for the game as a whole to benefit from redistribution, all professional clubs must meet tougher corporate governance standards.

Mrs Russell said: 'It is not good enough just to throw money at lower league clubs without reforms to en-sure that they're better run in future.

'One of the most worrying trends in recent years has been the number of unscrupulous directors gaining control of a club to asset strip.

'We challenge the FA to introduce, with immediate effect, a 'fit and proper person' test with respect to anyone who wants to run a football club.

'As a whole, the game of football is richer today than ever before, but more clubs than ever before are going to the wall. This paradox was at the heart of our investigation.'

Mrs Russell wants bosses at Chester City FC to comment on the report, but they have so far declined to do so.